Pumping unit



H. A, HOLZER June 4, 1940.

PUMPING UNIT Filed 'June 11, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet l y. R m 0 N l QRJ hm, A M @C N@ I: \b %W Wk OG wn* TJ@ R il wl 5..: l NNN mw w n@ m um. kv. W u N, f Sq N W NY MII vx .UN NN mh. K uw WN mW G --.IV Il J o r J olll Ll MW .m .n .n M, H n" NN [I n l l u o n 4 Q N o Q n QN ATTORNEY June 4,1940. HAHOLZER 1 y 2,203,148

PUMPING UNIT Filed Jude 11, 1957 s sheets-sheet 2 H. A. HOLZER 2,203,148

PUMPING UNIT v Filed June l1, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 `lune 4, 1940.

Patented June 4, 1940 PATENT oFFicE PUMPING UNIT Hiram A. Holzer, Pittsburg, Kans., assignor to United Iron -Works Company, Pittsburg, Kans., a corporation of Kansas Application June I1, 1937, Serial No. 147,654

' 7 Claims.

This invention relates to pumping units, and more particularly to those of a type adapted for pumping deep wells.

A particular problem to solve in pumping wells, and particularly deep oil Wells, is the provision of suflicient power to raise the well fluids to the surface of the earth. When sucker rods areused for pumping the oil from the well', a stroke of su'ici'ent length to adequately pump the oil causes a bend in the sucker rod line, as the sucker rods are reciprocated in the well by a walkingbeam, for example, as is the usual practice, which results in wearing out the stufling box and sucker rods, the resulting friction adding to the power required for reciprocating the'rods in the well.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a straight lift pumping unit for the sucker rods, by which the sucker rods are raised coaxially relative to the central axis of. the

well, and wherein power is proportioned between the up and down strokes of the walking-beam in reciprocating the sucker rods in such a manner that the rods are picked up slowly andreturned quickly, or vice versa under some conditions, but in any event with a gradual reversal in the direction of reciprocating motion of the rods.

Further objects of the present invention are to provide a swinging suspension for the walkingbeam wlfereby longitudinal movement thereof is effectedvin addition to the usual rocking motion; to provide a mechanism for controlling the longitudinal swinging movement' of the walkingbeam for compensating and overcoming the customary arcuate motion of the polish rod, usually mounted on the top section of. the rod line, as it is reciprocated in the well through its connection with the walking-beam and to provide a lever `mechanism connected with the power for operating the walking-beam, whereby said slow pick-up and quick return, or vice versa, together with gradual reversal of direction of movement of the rods through the walking-beam is effected. In accomplishing these and other objects of the present invention, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated inl the accompanying drawings,

wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of a pumping unit embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing, in full lines, the relative positions of the parts of the unit when the rods are in lowered position; the rela- 55 tive positions of the parts of the unit, when the rods are in raised condition, being shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a detail vertical cross-section throughv portions of one of the pitmans, cranks, cross-v heads, and lever arms, illustrating the connections therebetween. 4

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the pumping unit.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail vertical crosssection through the yupper end of the Samsonpost and walking-beam hanger.

Fig. 6 is a detailfragmentary vertical crosssection through the pitman end of the walkingbeam and the motion control link mechanism.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

The invention generally consists of a suitable. support I on which is mounted a standard suchf as a Samson-post or the like 2 having a wa1kingbeam hanger 3 mounted at its upper end which pivotally and swingingly carries or fulcrums the y 'walking-beam 4, the walking-beam having a polishl rod 5 or the like mounted at one end thereof, and pitman members 6 pivotally mounted at the other end thereof. Variable speed mechanisms 'I are providedv between the pitman 25 members and a power 8, and a walking-beam swinging motion control mechanism 9 is connected with the pitman end ofthe walking-beam` for overcoming thev usual arcuate movement of the sucker rods, as they are raised or lowered into a well, not shown.

The support I is of any suitable construction adequate for supporting a unit of this type and preferably consists of spaced parallel reinforced I-beamsl resting on the ground or other solid support I I, pits or the like I2 being provided along the sides of and below the beams for receiving the ends of the variable speed mechanism levers 'I on their down stroke.

The Samson-post 2 preferably consists ofa 40 pair of spaced A-frames having suitable mounting I3 on the beams I0 of the support I and suitable capping members I4` at their upper ends. Walking-beam hanger castings I5, which are' particularly shown in Fig. 5, and which consist of cylindrical body portions I6 having aligned bearing members I1, and laterally extending wing supports I8, are mounted in aligned and spaced relation at the .upper ends of the A'- frames on the capping members I4 by suitable 50 fastening devices I9. A hanger pivot pin 2l! is mounted in the bearings I1 and in the` bearings 2| which are formed as a part of the link members 22, the bearings 2| having bearing caps23 on the outer faces thereof adapted for, bearing engagement with inner faces 24 of the bearing members ll, both of which have central bores by which they are adapted to mount the pin 2l] for carrying the links 28 between the A-frarnes. The lower ends of the links are provided with similar bearings 25 and bearing caps 26 having aligned central bores for mounting the pivot pin 2l, on which is sleeved a walking-beam supporting sleeve 28 for mounting the bottom anges 253 of the preferably I-shaped walking-beam 4.

Mounted on one end of the walking-beam 4 is the member 30 which is suitably secured, as

at 3|, to the end of, the walking-beam and which is provided with converging sides 32 terminating in a pivot member 33 to 'which a string of sucker rods or the like is pivotally connected, by means of the polish rod 5 in the usual manner.

The opposite end of the walking-beam is pro-A vided with cap members 34 which consistof vertical plates having flanges 35 fixed to the top flanges of the walking-beam, the plates 34 eX- tending below the bottom flanges of the walkingbeam to prcvidebearing members 36- having suitable bores 3l for receiving the pivot pin 3Q, which extends therethrough and through the inside Walking-beam flange hubs 3S. Suitably bored heads Il of a pair of walking-beam motion controlf'links il are mounted on the pin 38 andfare suitably spaced from the plates 3d, as shown at 42. Also mounted on the pin 38 are spaced pairs of bored lugs t3 extending upwardly `from any equalizer IM, later more fully described.

The walking-beam control links 4| preferably consist of tubular members formed in sectionsv 45, as shown for example in Fig. 2, which are adjustably connected by turn-buckles 46, the sections t5 of the links being pivotally mounted on the upper end of the link support 9, as shown at 41. The link support 9 consists of a pair of spaced standards 48 and 4S having vertical legs 5B suitably mounted 'on the support l, as at 5|, and diagonally extending legs 52 mounted on the support l, as shown atSS. The upper end of each of the standards is provided with spaced bearingV plates 54 havingaligned bores for receiving'the pivot pins 55 which complete the pivotal mounting of the links between the support 9 and the pitman end oi the walking-beam.

The links di are adjusted to a length, the

Vchordal depths of the arcs of rotational movementl at the outer or walking-beam ends of which are equal to the chordal depth of rotational movement at the polish rod end of the Walkingbeam, the result of which is that the walkingbeam will be moved to the right in Fig. 2 on each of its up and down strokes, a distance equal to its chordal depthof rotational movement in such a manner that the polish rod lis raised and lowered in a straight line.

The equalizer 44 consists of a pair of spaced cross-plates 56 which are preferably of channel shape having spaced -pairs of bored lugs 5l mounted on the opposite ends of the upper flanges 5S of the channels. The ears are bored, as at 69 and El, for receiving pivot pins 62, on which the ends 63 of the pitmans 6 are Vpivotally mounted, as particularly shown in Fig. 6. The pitmans 6 extend downwardly forpivotal connection, as at 64, with pairs of spaced plates 65 fixed to the lever arms l, the plates being provided with bores for receiving the pivot pins which extend through the lower ends of the pitmans for pivotally connecting the lower ends of the pitmans to the lever arms.

The lever arms l each preferably consist of spaced pairs of channel members 6l and 58 having the webs thereof adjacent each other, and having plates 69 and 1li Xed to the top and bottom iianges thereof rrespectively for securing the channels together, a casting 'H being provided at the outer ends of the arms for maintaining that end of the arms in spaced parallel relation. A casting 12 is also suitably Xed to the inner ends of the arms for spacing and maintaining the arms in parallel relation, the casting l2 being provided with a pivotal connection 'I3 having a bore mounted on a pin 'M suitably xed to the A-frames in spaced relation to thev main supporting beams. A cross-piece 'l5 is also provided on each ofthe lever arms l substantially intermediate the length thereof for dividing the arms l into sections. Plates l5, which connect -:the paired channels't'! and 68, form a track for ends thereof of substantially the same widthas the plates 16, which adapts the Icross-heads for sliding reciprocatory movement-'between the enell castings 'H andthe cross-pieces 15in each lof the lever arms l. Each of the cross-heads 15 is` provided with a bore 'F9 `for receiving one end of the crank pins Bil and each cross-head has a capv 8l for closing the outer ends of the bored crossheads, the caps being secured thereto by the fastening devices 82. l

Each of the crank pins Bil is provided with a reduced tapered inner end 83,V seating in a similarly tapered `socket 34 in the free end of crank arms S5. Each ofl the crank arms 85is provided with the usual counter-balance .tiY and pin socket 3l' for -adjusting thecrank arms for' the power .8. the cranks preferably having operating ends 953 provided with fastening devices Si,

for clamping the crank arms to the drive shaft of the power.

The operationy of a pumping kunit constructed as described is as follows:

Assuming the unit to be atv rest in the position shown in Fig. l, the power li is energized for' operating the crank shaft. The crank is then turned by the shaft in a clockwise direction,V

which raises the levers 'l through theirsliding engagement with the cross-heads for raisingthe pitman end of the walking-beam through its pivotal` connection therewith :to a height limited to a tangential lin'e extending from the lever pivot point 3 to the periphery of a circle bounded by the arcuate path of movement of the crank. During the upwardmovement of the pitman end of the walking-beam, the links 4l are also lpivoted upwardly and follow an arc,y the radius of y'which is the length of the links, vwhich results in forcing the walking-beam` longitudinally to the right, as shown in Fig. 2, through its pivotal connection on the links 2L' supported by the Samson-post. The length of the vlinks is predetermined in such a manner that the walkingbeam is moved longitudinally adistance equal to the chordal depth of an arc ordinarily bounded by the pivoted polish rod end of a Xed walkingbeam. The sucker rodsv connected with the polish rod are, therefore, lowered in a straight line.

As the cross-heads pass the tangential point of the planes through the center line of the lever arms i in y their raised position in continued clockwise rotation, they travel to the right on actuating the crank.

their `tracks between the channels of the lever arms and force the levers downwardly, as shown in dotted` lines in Fig. 2, for raising the polish rod end of the walking-beam through its pitman connection therewith. The lowering of the pitman end of the walking-beam will continue until the cross-heads reach a point in tangential relation tothe juncture of the periphery of their arcuate movement and the center line of the leversl in down position, whereupon, upon con.- tinued rotation, they raise the levers to continue the reciprocating operation of the walking-beam. It is apparent that the distances between the tangential points on opposite sides thereof are of different lengths, and that the longer length is on the down stro-ke of the levers, which results in slowing upward travel of the sucker rods in such a manner that less power is required for that the short distance of travel of the crossheads on the up-stroke of the levers causes quick return of the sucker rods to down position in the well, thereby utilizing the time ordinarily required for the return of the rods where the arcs are of equal length, the reversal of direction of movement of the rods, however, being gradual for reducing the shock and strain on the rods and power. Under some conditions, it is desirable to provide a quick lift and slow drop of the rods in the well as, -for example, when compensating for momentum of the rods at the time of change of direction of movement thereof in order to provide a slow settling of the rods in the Well. rIhis is accomplished by merely reversing the gear box ordinarily connected with the` power and, with the pitman and beam connections remaining the same, such variances in speed of lift and drop of the rods are adequately effected.

The principal advantages in an apparatus or unit of this character are that a straight lift for the polish rod is effected through the link connection of the walking-beam with the Samsonpost, and its linked connection with the lever arms, as controlled by the motion control links and, further, since the travel is Agreater on the up stroke of the walking-beam, less power is required than would ordinarily be needed, and a faster return of the rods is effected which results in a substantial saving of time in operating a well.

What I claim and desire to secure Patent is:

1. A pumping unit of the character described including a standard, a link having one end pivotally mounted on the standard, a beam fulcrumed on the other end of the link, the opposite ends of said beam being adapted for engagement with a load and an actuating mechanism respectively, a second standard, and a second link pivotally mounted on the second standard, the second linkbeing pivotally connected with the end of the beam to be actuated and adapted to move the beam longitudinally in response tof actuation of the beam.

"2. Alpumping unit of the character described including a standard, a link having one end pivotally mounted on the standard, a beam fulcrumed on the other end of the link, the opposite ends of said beam being adapted for engagement with a load and an actuating mechanism respectively, a second standard, a second link pivotally mounted on the second standard, the second link being pivotally connected with the end of the beam to be actuated and adapted to move the beam longitudinally in response to by Letters It is, further, apparent actuation of the beam, and means interconnectstresses applied thereto.

3. A pumping unit ofthe character described including a standard, a link having one end pivo-tally mounted on the standard, a beam fulcrumed on the other end of the link, one end of the beam being adapted to support a load, a pitman pivotallyv connected with the other end of the beam, a lever pivotally mounted on the standard and pivotally engaged with the pitman, a crank slidably connected with the lever for actuating the beam at different speeds in opposite directions, a' second standard, and a second link pivotally mounted on the second standard, the link being pivotally connected with the end of the beam to be actuated and adapted to move the beam longitudinally in response to actuation of the beam.

4. A pumping unit of the character described including a standard, a link having one end pivotally mounted on the standard, a beam fulcrumed on the other end of the link, one end of the beam being adapted to support a load, a`

beam, pitman and second link adapted to equalize stresses applied thereto.

5. A pumping unit of the character `described including a Samson-post, a walking beam pivotally and swingingly mounted on the Samson-post having one end thereof adapted for pivotal connection with rods of a well, a pitman pivotally mounted on the opposite end of the walking beam, a crank, means for actuating the crank, variable speed means including a lever pivotally mounted on the Samson-post and pitman respectively having a track, a cross-head pivotally mounted on the crank having sliding engagement in said track for actuating said lever to reciprocate the walking beam and raise and lower the rods in the well at different speeds in opposite directions, a support other than said Samson-post, and a link pivotally mounted on said support and walking beam respectively for swinging the walking beam in response to reciprocation thereof.

6. A pumping unit of the character described including a Samson-post, a walking beam pivotally and swingingly mounted on the Samson-post having one end thereof adapted for pivotal connection with rods of a well, a pitman pivotally mounted on the opposite end of the walking beam, a crank, means for actuating the crank, variable speed means including a lever pivotally mounted on the Samson-post and pitman respectively having a track, a cross-head pivotally mounted on the crank having sliding engagement in said track for actuating said lever to reciprocate the walking beam and raise and lower the rods in the well at different speeds in opposite directions, a support other than said vSamson-post, a link pivotally mounted on vsaid support and walking beam respectively for swinging the walking beam in response to reciprocation thereof, and an equalizer interconnecting said pitman, link and Walking beam for equalizing stresses applied thereto.

7. A pumping unit of the character described including a standard, a beam, means fulcruming the beam on the standard, one end of the beam being adapted to support a load, an equalizer engaged with the other end of the beam, pitmans pivotally connected With the opposite ends of the equalizer, levers pivotallymounted on the standard and pivotally engaged Withthe pitmans, and a crank spaced kfrom the standard and arranged substantially below the=pitman end Y of thek beam, said crank being slidab-ly connected with the levers for actuating the-beam at different speeds in opposite directions.`

I-IIRAM A. HOLZER. 

